ModularGrid uses so-called cookies to ensure it's so-called functionality. We also use dubious tracking scripts. Find out more in the Privacy Policy. We use cookies and wanna let you know.
Too many layers in one synthbass. There are 2 basic synthbass at 0.40 seconds. sub oscs are common, but oscillators at mid and treble frequencies are different. In short, I say mid bass and side bass here. In mid bass and side bass, one of the oscillators is an osc with analog thruzero fm feature. the other is a fully digital thru zero fm oscillator. I made this mainframe by programming it in analog logic. but there are still some extra moves. I cut them out of some of my synthbass jams and inserted them into the song.
Hi Guys,
my new piece "Nebel" for handpan and a small modular synthesizer in calm and thoughtful mood is available on Youtube.
Mostly TipTop Buchla clones modules, the sequence from the ER-101 and the effects are Erb-Verb and Echophone.
Wow! That's really intense. Amazing job. I'd love to know how this kind of track is made. Is there a lot of recording small samples and editing them together in a DAW? For example the section that starts at 0:40. It sounds complicated...
For FH-2 polyphonic playing you could setup in the configuration tool:
Type: Poly, 2 Voices;
Per Voice Ouputs: CV, Gate or Trigger, Velocity(?) and Envelope(?). ( 4 x 4 )
Then you'd have a full 8 expander outputs for whateverâthe filter and repeater, one of the Noise Engineering modules, bitbox?
You have two oscillators yes, so to play your rig polyphonically you'd have to patch both oscillators and mix them down to a single centred output so you can then bring them into your reverb, delay effects and make them stereo. Otherwise you'll have two voices, one in left side, one in rightâprobably not what you want. Of course you can record each voice separately and have as many layers as you want in your DAW. But you basically have two subtractive signal paths osc/bb>filter>fx and osc/bb>fx>filter, so this is not gonna be complicated.
The bitbox does multisample polyphony too with MIDI, so you have that option with your Keystep.
Ultimately it comes down to you. Personally I'd probably not devote so much hp in a small case to a reverb and two different delays... but your name is Echo so that's your thing. Do your thing.
-- Toccata
Thanks for the feedback. There's 3 oscillators in the system when you count the basimilus. Plus I have a mother 32 so that's 4 voices. Technically the maths and I think mimeo could be used as a voice as well. So FH2 plus 1 expander gives me 3 voices + 4 outputs leftover for modulation. That's probably enough. I also might mess with MPE controllers...so I just wanted to have enough outputs for that. I plan on playing it polyphonically...saving those parts as samples into bitbox...looping a variety of those and reusing the oscillators for other things afterwards.
In terms of too many delay and reverb...I agree. I own the mimeophon already...but I'm very intrigued by Nautilus and definitely would like to pick that up. I heard they are very different and I'd like the sound design possibilities of Nautilus...it has distortion etc. For reverb, I wanted the starlab...but it's too large to be practical in my case...and wouldn't fit with the modules I currently own. So the NE reverb was what I came up with as a substitute....perhaps it isn't necessary and I can just use DAW reverb.
I will check out those modules. I just don't want to complete my case and be missing something that is important.
A filter from Jolin Lab in Italy.
Another very quick build, mostly surface mount already installed. Not necessarily for beginners, though, it can be tricky to not damage the surface mount parts while you're soldering the jacks and so on, some parts are VERY close to delicate surface mount parts.
It sounds OK. Not as aggressive as I expected, seems to be milder to my ear.
Hi,
Very large modules for a very small box.
As a newbie I have started with a 6U x 104HP DIY case two months ago and I almost have it full.
Och is a very good module, and they can be modulated between them through the CV input. Another option, with more wave types and synchronizable would be, for example, the double LFO of NLC, it also occupies 8HP, the same as the two och https://www.modulargrid.net/e/nonlinearcircuits-dual-lfo-vco.
In addition to the lfo's,A compact TILT-type function generator would be nice, for example. https://www.modulargrid.net/e/after-later-audio-tilt
Totally agree with @JimHowell1970, you need a sequencer with pitch output, not just gates.
And some VCA's, attenuverters and a mixer for the audio output.
If you change the Starlab for a https://www.modulargrid.net/e/happy-nerding-fx-aid-xl-black
you can save space for everything else, although I think you should go for a bigger case, even if you don't fill it up at the moment, blind panels are cheap.
BR
A sequential switch is used, for example, to channel the modulation signal from a source to several destinations dynamically by means of a trigger. You can also send a sequenced trigger to different destinations.
-- ferranadsr
Interesting, that's something I use stages for. I guess I was conflating it with sequencing.
So, would ornament and crime or a pams be more utilitarian? I know that o_C has a lot of different algorithms, and can have two operating at the same time, but I also feel like pams has more direct programming.
-- fretless19
stages is a great module, it can be used for both sequential switching and sequencing, amongst other things... the only problem with it is that it can only be used for so much at a time - only 6 stages per module...
sequential switches are also often bi-directional so you can switch a single modulation source between four different destinations and also 4 modulation sources to a single destination... doepfer make an inexpensive and small one a-151
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
maybe... but only newbies who've bought without enough research/thought going into the process...
depending on what you want from it - I'm guessing melodic music of some sort as opposed to percussive (because of the atlantis & rings clone) then it's not going to stay that way long as it will be pretty unusable for that purpose...
how are you intending to sequence pitch? euclidean circles only sequences trigger/gate - there's no pitch sequencer or midi->cv module!!!
2 free running lfos doesn't really work so well - maybe replace one of those with a syncable modulation source
get a bigger case... you'll want it within a very short time and a bigger case now is cheaper than buying an extra case the same size or upgrading... & less hassle! A Tiptop Mantis is a good starter case - balance of cost/hp./good power supply/manufacturer reputation etc
Starlab is massive in this size case (por for that matter one double the size) - smaller fx modules are available and more versatile (fx aid pro for example)
no utilities - no mixers, no vcas, no attenuation of any kind and that's just for starters - there's nothing that's needed to support the modules that are in the case...
please see my signature for some hints on how to build a versatile modular synthesizer and then go and look at a lot of other newbie posts to see why this is not a good build!!!!
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
if the external modules can output arpeggios via midi then yes - all the mutant brain does is convert midi to cv & gates
you will probably find you want/need to use a midi merge box of some sort so that the outputs from both external boxes can be combined before being sent to the midi -> cv inteface
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
Hello fellow wigglers. I currently have the ALM mmMIDI module and I am thinking about swapping it out for the Hexinverter Mutant Brain. What I would like to do is use my external gear (Novation BassStation and Erica DB-01) to create arpeggio patterns and then send those patterns to my modular system. Would the Mutant Brain accomplish this?
What Farkas said..
two recommendations if you want to add percussion in your setup
* the Percall by Befaco. Vca+envelop generator easy and nice.. but what makes it one of my fav is the choke option.
* the sound-force sample modules; three 4hp sample modules, preloaded with classic sounds 808, 909 y the lindrum (my fav)
The idea was to be able to play polyphonically and also have some slots leftover for random lfos etc. But I'm sure 1 expander would be good. If I drop one of those any suggestions for another 4hp module to fill the case?
I'm a big fan of Trent Reznor and his experimental scores so this will heavily be a sound design rack...however I want to be able to play live with my keystep pro. Bitbox for percussion, keystep pro sequencing that. Then I have many voices leftover in my rack.
-- echo7
For FH-2 polyphonic playing you could setup in the configuration tool:
Type: Poly, 2 Voices;
Per Voice Ouputs: CV, Gate or Trigger, Velocity(?) and Envelope(?). ( 4 x 4 )
Then you'd have a full 8 expander outputs for whateverâthe filter and repeater, one of the Noise Engineering modules, bitbox?
You have two oscillators yes, so to play your rig polyphonically you'd have to patch both oscillators and mix them down to a single centred output so you can then bring them into your reverb, delay effects and make them stereo. Otherwise you'll have two voices, one in left side, one in rightâprobably not what you want. Of course you can record each voice separately and have as many layers as you want in your DAW. But you basically have two subtractive signal paths osc/bb>filter>fx and osc/bb>fx>filter, so this is not gonna be complicated.
The bitbox does multisample polyphony too with MIDI, so you have that option with your Keystep.
Ultimately it comes down to you. Personally I'd probably not devote so much hp in a small case to a reverb and two different delays... but your name is Echo so that's your thing. Do your thing.
A lot of the reason to get into modular is the ability to turn anything into a percussive sound source. It's only limited by your imagination. An oscillator, wavefolder, low pass gate, etc... Even a self-oscillating filter, VCA, and envelopes... That's what makes modular fun.
There are plenty of drum oriented modules like Basimilus Iteritas Alter, Plonk, and the now discontinued WMD stuff, but drum machines are far cheaper. Just depends on what you are trying to do, and how deep you want to get into creating your own sounds.
Good luck and have fun.
Sorry I missed the part with the mixer. Sure, an external mixer would help.
I have an ES-3 and have used it for sound design and composition, but never for playing the case, mainly because I do not play a modular and use it solely for sound design and composition. Something like the ES-3 is good for communication between the DAW and the case. I also have a Mutant Brain MIDI-CV module that I had bought in 2019 for a specific project. I'll use that to send note/gate data to the case and use the ES-3 for sending envelopes, LFOs and also audio.
Personally I find most modular performances boring OR music that could easily be done using a laptop or other hardware boxes. Lots of reverb-drenched pointless ambient doodlings or never-ending arpeggios over 4/4 kicks. I think most people use a modular for the sake of using a modular - an extension of a pitfall in electronic music (academic or non-academic) - the tool or process is more important than the end result. I will, however, give myself a last chance at trying to play with a modular by focusing only on my Make Noise modules as a consistent, single-producer system.
If you want some more interesting, experimental uses of modulars in live performance and composition, I'd recommend checking names like Thomas Lehn, Richard Scott, Eliad Wagner, Thomas Ankersmit...
Electronic musician, improviser, composer, sound designer in Berlin
Solo, Böseblick, Ephemeral Fragments, Only With You, Pep Talk, Lettow Erel Duo
It's discontinued now, but Warps from Mutable Instruments is a useful wave folder/ring mod/crossfader/TZFM thing (further expanded with the Parasites firmware.) I'm not always crazy about digital modules or remembering modes and that kind of thing, but I've found Warps to be pretty darn useful. You might find something like that valuable in 10hp.
Also, shout out to Sam Prekop! I'm a huge fan of all of his and John McEntire's projects.
Good luck and have fun.
If I have a Yamaha MG12XU mixer, why do I need a stereo mixer in the rack?
Perhaps I do not need one of the expanders for the FH2. The idea was to be able to play polyphonically and also have some slots leftover for random lfos etc. But I'm sure 1 expander would be good. If I drop one of those any suggestions for another 4hp module to fill the case?
I'm a big fan of Trent Reznor and his experimental scores so this will heavily be a sound design rack...however I want to be able to play live with my keystep pro. Bitbox for percussion, keystep pro sequencing that. Then I have many voices leftover in my rack.
A sequential switch is used, for example, to channel the modulation signal from a source to several destinations dynamically by means of a trigger. You can also send a sequenced trigger to different destinations.
-- ferranadsr
Interesting, that's something I use stages for. I guess I was conflating it with sequencing.
So, would ornament and crime or a pams be more utilitarian? I know that o_C has a lot of different algorithms, and can have two operating at the same time, but I also feel like pams has more direct programming.
How would you define a sequential switch as opposed to a sequencer?
I will often use stages as cv sequencers
-- fretless19
Hi,
A sequential switch is used, for example, to channel the modulation signal from a source to several destinations dynamically by means of a trigger. You can also send a sequenced trigger to different destinations.
It is a basic module, for example https://www.modulargrid.net/e/doepfer-a-151
You can watch this video where they explain it very clearly with a lot of options.
Hi,
If you plan to put Pamela I don't think you need any more clock modulator.
I agree with @JimHowell1970, a sequential switch and maybe a matrix mixer and an attenuator/attenuverter could be good options.
BR
i would like to get some input/different look on my setup...i want to buy the metropolis seq. in the near future and would like to know if i miss something essential in my 2 boxes. . . .
(ps: i will replace the doepfer vco at some time. . . )
(music i like: jim o rourke, sam prekop, eliane radigue (literally everything from the grm circle).. . .
That doepfer-lfo is a nice basic module.. one of the first I bought and still in my case.
there are loads of 4hp attenuverters out there.
Instead of that 914 behringer; check the doepfer a128.. smaller footprint but different frequencies.
A deceptively simple sounding patch, and beautiful. A great listen. Thanks for sharing. And those Stoel modules look interesting too. You need to do more promo work. ;-) Cheers!
This would make my little effects box even more mediocre. But if anybody can give me an advice how I can fill up the 8HP from the 995 with flashy modules that suit my desire (at least 3 attenuators and a flexible LFO to modulate the Z5000) I might follow these suggestions. Thanks!
-- Jockl
don't doepfer do a 4hp quad attenuator and a 4hp quad lfo? I just checked, yes to both - more utilitarian than flashy though
"some of the best base-level info to remember can be found in Jim's sigfile" @Lugia
Utility modules are the dull polish that makes the shiny modules actually shine!!!
Can we not forbid these kind of douchebags and send them off to Reverb? I am fine with selling rare modules with a markup but shouldn't there be limits?
@JimHowell1970
Thanks for your suggestions. I was aware that my tiny box loaded with uncool Behringer modules won't be regarded as the latest hip thing in this community. One thing I want to avoid is to expand to a full blown modular system so buying a bigger case is no option for me.
@adaris
I guess you are right. I'll swap the bulky 995 with a Doepfer A-138n and a Doepfer A-145-4.
This would make my little effects box even more mediocre. But if anybody can give me an advice how I can fill up the 8HP from the 995 with flashy modules that suit my desire (at least 3 attenuators and a flexible LFO to modulate the Z5000) I might follow these suggestions. Thanks!
You seem to be missing a stereo mixer. You have a Bitbox, QPAS, a Mimeophon, a Desmodus and a Nautilus... all of them are stereo. Unless you want to use them as one big stereo chain, you'll need a basic stereo mixer. Something like a Happy Nerding 2xSAM or Make Noise's own XOH would do. You might even want to go for a larger mixer if you want to be able to play all those sound sources and effects together.
What kind of music do you want to perform/compose with this case?
Electronic musician, improviser, composer, sound designer in Berlin
Solo, Böseblick, Ephemeral Fragments, Only With You, Pep Talk, Lettow Erel Duo
Yes, with the FH-2 you have enough modulation sources: and if you incorporate it with your DAW you can assign CC numbers to the outputs and draw in your automationâany curve you can create. Including the expanders, no matter how you arrange them, 24 outputs is a lot for your case. I have no idea where you're planning on putting them all!
If you can describe the type of music you make or want to make or can compare it to musicians you're inspired by, other members with similar taste might have helpful advice on finishing your rack.
Thanks for the feedback! The layout you suggest does make sense. I plan on going line out from various modules into a desktop mixer so that I can multitrack stems...so not everything will be going out the x-pan or case outputs necessarily. I do like the black, but I already own a lot of these modules.
As I'm looking to finish my case, are there any obvious or helpful module/s that I could be missing? Or replacements to certain modules that may perform better/allow for more options? Do you think the FH2 plus expanders and Maths offer enough modulation options?
Do you think I need a dedicated mixer module or is Maths and X-Pan suitable if I'm going out into a desktop mixer?
Experimental sounds but I donât even know what style I enjoy tbh. Still new to it. But I use my expert sleeper for vcv rack so I have a lot of little things like clocks delays and mixers that I can use to blend in . But I want to hear what people think would go well . Whatever it is il look into . Maybe a Intellijel shapeshifter? Or some befaco mixer? I donât know which would he better or if there is something better than those 2.
What kind of music are you making? What functions do you feel are missing? Is there something you wish you could do, but can't?
We will probably need some more details so that we can help. Otherwise, people might just start listing random modules.
Am curious to know how it turns out though, holler back when you get that sumbitch runnin again.
-- yeahivandalizm
Kinda forgot to update, but thankfully both the module and the case are in good working order! Thank you again for the proper advice. There are a couple of buttons on the module (oh, btw it's a 2nd-hand Maths with a black faceplate) that are a little bit sticky, but also work alright. At some point I'll have to do some triaging to clean 'em out, but I'm thinking I might leave that to the pros.
